UPGRADING YOUR TOTAL MAN IN CHRIST: UPGRADING THROUGH EXERCISE

It is important that you exercise your body, even as you eat well. In the realm of the spirit as well, as you feed your spirit well, you must also exercise it.

In this regard, we can learn from children. They do not sit still after eating. Rather, they jump all about when they have been fed. You can actually tell when their food tank is empty by the change in the pattern of their play.

A hungry child is a quiet child.

God also expects us to exercise with what we have received. After the baptism of the Holy Ghost, Christ went into the wilderness; there, He tamed wild animals so that He could handle the man filled with legion; while David killed a lion and a bear before he handled Goliath.

God will likewise cause certain issues to come your way in order to make you exercise with what you have eaten in His word.

Isa 44: 18-20

They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand.

When a man sits under a teacher that fails to feed him well, it makes one wonder if he cannot see the harm he is doing to his life and destiny.

This is the picture of such a man. First, the enemy shuts his eyes so that he cannot see; and then his heart is shut, so that he cannot understand.

And none considereth in his heart, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; yea, also I have baked bread upon the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh, and eaten it: and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination? shall I fall down to the stock of a tree?

A man who walks in the understanding of this scripture will never again bow to idols.

God is exposing the foolishness of idolatry; that image was not made of a whole material. Part of it was burnt as firewood in some local restaurant; another part was burnt in baking bread, and yet another in roasting meat. This means that the idol is actually made from the remnant of a tree.

The question to consider then is: shall my life, glory and destiny fall before the residue of a tree?

When some personality uses such an image to invoke your glory, you should laugh at their foolishness, and not be afraid. Does that person think your glory is so small that it would fall down to the stock of a tree?

Inasmuch as that image was carved from a tree, or some other material, it is not permitted to claim authority over your life.

However, this understanding is not in everyone.

He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?

A man who feeds on junks has his eyes covered. He cannot see or understand well. His heart has been deceived by wrong information, and this turns him away from the truth.

There are those who began their Christian journey in integrity and fidelity. Sadly, under the feeding of ashes, they lost their grip on the truths they once valued.

A deceived heart makes it impossible for a man to consider that he is living a lie. He cannot see, understand, or consider the folly of his ways.

A man who is well fed is capable of delivering his soul. He walks in divine understanding: he will not celebrate lies, nor will he deceive himself. He will consider his life before the mirror of the Word and make necessary adjustments so that he can stand boldly before God and the devil.

Heb 5: 12-14

For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

God desires that everyone is skilful. He desires that we rise above the level of immaturity- where one needs milk when he should be feeding on strong meat.

But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Note the word, belongeth...

Strong power, revelation, authority is not for everyone. Strong meat belongs to those that are spiritually mature; those who exercise their senses.

A man who applies the Word to every area of his life- in his walk with God and other men- is exercising his senses. He brings the Word of God to everything he does. He will not do anything without weighing it by the Word; he considers- is this not a lie in my hands?

Strong meat belongs to such a man.

If you also desire such, apply the Word to your life. Be a doer of the Word, even when it is not convenient.

Isa 44: 3-5

For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground...

‘Water’ refers to the word of God. No one can access the mysteries of the Word without a hunger in him. When you do receive the Word, exercise it by applying the revelation to your life.

There are two levels of the Word here- the water and the flood.

Whoever will be filled with the water must thirst for it. The flood of the Word is a deeper level, and requires a greater level of thirst. It belongs to those who go before God with the understanding that they know nothing. They consider their previous level of knowledge as nothing in order to receive much more from God.

When you discover that you struggle to speak the Word that you have eaten, in the realm of the spirit, it is a sign that your soul is dry. You need to seek the deeper filling of the Word.

I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:

Notice the order of the pouring: first the Word, then a deeper level of the Word. This is followed by the outpouring of the Spirit. The Disciples of Christ were fed for 3years before the power of the Holy Ghost came upon them.

Next comes the blessing. We serve a God of order. He will not give His blessing without first giving the power to defend the blessing.

And they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water courses.

When the blessing is poured, the man, the marriage, the ministry, the business, the children, the glory, the works of his hands... will spring up.

One shall say, I am the LORD's; and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob; and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the LORD, and surname himself by the name of Israel.

A man who already belongs to God will have no need to say again ‘I am the LORD's’. This Word is for that man over whose life a devil is claiming ownership. God is saying to him, ‘thirst after my Word. When I have filled you- with my Word, Spirit and blessing- you will spring up. It will no longer matter what judgement had previously kept you down; you will rise.

Then, when any idol, image, evil personality...challenge your springing up, you will boldly declare that you belong, not to some image or idol, but to the LORD.

Why is this declaration important?

Heb 7:14

For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.

You declare that you now belong to the LORD because your springing up is in the order of Christ. Like Him, no prophecy was given concerning your springing up; yet it shall also be said concerning you: he sprang up.

It is time to let the power of your household kknow that your surname has changed. You are no longer bound by the ways of your ancestral background. You have subscribed to the family of God; you are now the LORD’s.

PRAYER POINTS

In the name of Jesus,

My life and destiny, you belong to the LORD. Therefore, receive fire to spring up.

Any ancestral power fighting against my rising in life; you are a liar. I bring you down by fire.

UPGRADING YOUR TOTAL MAN IN CHRIST: UPGRADING BY EATING WELL (B)

In the first part of this series, we learnt that eating well was necessary for victorious Christian living, because it is not enough to be holy. As a Christian, you must feed well in order to turn the tables on the principalities and powers that have hitherto victimised you, and to enjoy the ministry of angels (Heb 1:14)

Hos 12:1

When God declares that idols have spoken vanity and the diviners have seen a lie (Zech 10:2), understand that the idols have indeed spoken, and the diviners did see something. But God declares that, in His capacity, their words and visions will amount to nothing.

However, to the man who has not fed well and grown to this level of divine capacity, the words and visions of the wicked will prove true, contrary to divine will. Such a Christian will use portions of the scripture but they will appear ineffective, not because the Word lacks power, but because he has not grown enough to access and wield that weapon.

I say this to help you understand the scripture reference above. When the bible uses words like wind, dust, lies...it is referring to different levels of information.

The staying power of your knowledge determines its capacity. Some Christians are holding on to the wind- words that are easily blown away by the pressures of life.

The Christian who will triumph must wield living stones of the Word, for these cannot be blown away by the wind of adversity.

When a church praises and prays, but fails to feed well on the Word, its members will suffer oppression, torment, and loss.

Ephraim feedeth on wind, and followeth after the east wind: he daily increaseth lies and desolation

What a man feeds on determines what he produces. When a men feeds on the wind, he will produce lies and desolation. He will experience regression and loss because he has fed on food that cannot nourish and build him up.

...and they do make a covenant with the Assyrians

They feed on the wind- on lies, and empty words- because their source of information is the world. Today’s Assyrians are represented by comedians peddling lies on the altar of God.

...and oil is carried into Egypt.

The Church now has it upside down; rather than influence the world, she has carried the anointing into the world, and looked to it (the world) to de-stress, motivate, distract and influence the people of God.

Brethren, everyone has a responsibility to judge the substance he is been fed with. Check the content of the messages: how have they affected your thinking, your understanding of God and your destiny; how have they changed your life in line with the will of God?

Pro 15:14

The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness.

In the Kingdom, we have knowledge, understanding and wisdom; and move up to more knowledge, understanding and wisdom. This cycle of growth is never-ending.

When a man has an understanding of his present level, he will seek more knowledge to advance- he will question the value of what he receives daily in the face of the tests of life.

However a fool will remain in a place of malnourishment and continue to feed on junks.

Isa 26:17-18

Like as a woman with child, that draweth near the time of her delivery, is in pain, and crieth out in her pangs; so have we been in thy sight, O LORD. We have been with child, we have been in pain, we have as it were brought forth wind; we have not wrought any deliverance in the earth; neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen.

The image here is of a man pregnant with visions of destiny. He is heavy with his vision to effect a change in his household and generation by the power of God. Picture a woman in the throes of labour. The baby is making to come forth; the lives of mother and child are at a delicate point.

When a Christian is in such a state, he cannot afford to sit in a place where divine substance is not provided. He comes to church to know how to bring forth his vision- to know how to walk, who to walk with, and even how to defend his vision.

We have been with child, we have been in pain, we have as it were brought forth wind; we have not wrought any deliverance in the earth; neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen.

Sadly, many lament like these men. Like big fishes in small ponds, they have big visions, but have only been fed with junks. Therefore, when they try to bring forth, all that comes out is wind.

Such people discover that their desire to affect change does not reflect in their reality, because they have not been well fed.

Brethren, you have not done anything yet. Do not be deceived by how much you have, or by the things the world regard as achievements...hitherto, you have not wrought any deliverance.

Peradventure, you have laboured to no avail before now; it is time to sit down, eat well and generate the strength to bring forth your vision.

...neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen.

Christ declared that He was the light of the world as long as He was in it. (Jn 9:5). When He was to depart, He passed the mantle to you and me (Matt 5:14).

If you are the first Christian in your household, this charge is yours to bear, and it is not one to take lightly. You therefore do not come to church to play. You have a serious responsibility in your household: to cast out every evil- powers, covenants, curses, spells, patterns, judgements- brought in by your ancestors. You put an end to their dominion and enthrone Christ, making way for others to rise in your household.

Until you bring these ones down, you have not yet done the real thing. You have simply brought forth wind.

It is a great responsibility; that of a divine pathfinder.

This is why you must eat well, so that you can work well and leave a legacy- that is acknowledged in the heavens- for generations unborn.

Be like Moses; be a father in your household- lift up your hands in prayer for your people.

Mic 7: 14-17

We have learnt about foes; those who come against you in the realm of the spirit, and desire only to feed on your flesh. We also learnt the importance of feeding those who have been marked for destruction by such foes.

Feed thy people with thy rod, the flock of thine heritage, which dwell solitarily in the wood, in the midst of Carmel: let them feed in Bashan and Gilead...

Ps 23:4 talks about the rod and the staff.

You need to seek out a place where you will be provoked unto love and to good works (Heb 10:24); a place where you are trained in the Word and prayer. Be ready to endure correction and discipline in order to grow in these areas.

...as in the days of old.

O that men would seek, and sit with the Word as in the days of old! Unfortunately, while the Speaker remains stable, the seekers are unstable.

Many desire the manifestation of God’s power as of old, but they do not hunger for His Word accordingly.

Churches fill up for praise nights and prophetic services, but the head count at Bible Study sessions is a sad testament to the value this generation places on the Word.

As in the days of your coming forth from the land of Egypt, I will show them marvellous things (AMP)

Yet, God is saying, ‘if men can seek Me as in the days of old, I will display marvellous things, as I did when I brought Israel out of Egypt.’

This is what you stand to gain when you feed well. Every enemy against your life will be dealt with, and all will know the greatness of His might towards you.

The nations shall see and be confounded at all their might..

Note the word ‘nations’. Let us establish that holiness does not exempt anyone from attacks. You must understand that there are powers rising to stop you (remember Balak and Balaam).

The good news is this: if you are well fed, these enemies (no matter their number) will be ashamed, because they will see all their efforts against you- wrought with all their might- frustrated, again and again.

...they shall lay their hand upon their mouth, their ears shall be deaf.

In their shame, they will place their hands over their mouth, as an expression of fearful wonder, at your progress in spite of all they have done. News about your rising will make them stop their own ears because it will too much for them to bear!

They shall lick the dust like a serpent, they shall move out of their holes like worms of the earth: they shall be afraid of the LORD our God, and shall fear because of thee.

The ones who sought to bring you down will find themselves on the ground, licking dust like a snake...and when they are alerted of your presence, they will lose boldness before you, and hide like worms from your sight.

Through you, the fear of God will be established in their heart.

These will be your testimony, when you eat well. You become a vessel of the display of the power and might of God, and His instrument of enthroning His will in your world.

PRAYER POINTS

In the name of Jesus,

My life, you must grow in the power, knowledge, revelation, fire of God.

Higher power, possess my life mightily.

My life, receive raw fire to bring forth.

My life, receive fire to bring down strangers in my household.

Whatever my parents brought into my household, working against my destiny; I destroy you by fire.

My life, progress!

Evil strangers, in my household, showing yourself mighty against my life; I bring you down by fire.

Every evil power or personality rising against my life; go down and lick the dust.

As you work towards upgrading your spirit, soul and body in Christ, you must acknowledge that God has the sufficiency for all your insufficiency. You have to recognise that God is sufficient for whatever lack exists in your life...

For many Christians, just enough is enough. They are content with just enough capacity to handle their homes, enough financial substance to take care of basic family needs, and a functional car; nothing fancy. These do not seek for great power or substance.

However, when God decides that you are made for much more, then know that you are in good trouble...

While you still think, talk, work, pray and live as a babe in Christ, you are frustrating God’s plan to use you.

When you are destined for greater things, but stay at the level of an ordinary Christian existence, get ready because trouble will find you, to push you out of your comfort level and into God’s divine plan for you.

Many Christians behave like a child that is being weaned off breast milk. Like the baby that cries inconsolably because he still desires the milk, we fight to remain in our carnal, immature, inadequately trained level.

Ps 131: 1-2

Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me.

This man is saying, ‘Father, I do not desire much. I just want the standard minimum. I do not desire great power or wealth; neither do I care for great matters or extraordinary things’. Yet, God is saying, ‘I called you for these very things’.

This is the man who had been left in the bush to tend flock. Yet, he was called to be the voice in his household.

Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child.

Behave yourself.

When God is ready to move you, it will do you good to adjust accordingly.

When his father sent him to minister to the king, this young man stayed a while, and left to return to the bush!

Even when he returned to the city (again at the command of his father) and killed Goliath, he left the giant’s head at the feet of the king, took the giant’s sword to study and made to return again to the bush!

If, like David, you have been crying to be left in the bush, and kicking against the call of God to take the throne, it is time to sit up and adjust.

You need to behave as the great man you are called to be.

Quit throwing tantrums like a baby being weaned by his mother.

As a babe in Christ, you could dwell on the milk level of the Word. However, you must be ready to grow and mature beyond that level and receive the strong meat of the Word.

Gen 14:14

And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan.

When Abram went to war against this world power, he did not go with all his servants; only the ones he had trained.

What is even more worthy of note is that he had an armoury, a place stocked with enough weapons of war to arm 318 men.

Do you have a place of power in your home? Is there a place where heaven kisses the earth in your house? Do your children know that there is a place in their home where the God of their father or mother will meet with them?

Brethren, God wants to give you power and authority, but first, He has to train you. To empower you without training would be like giving a loaded gun to a child; he could be the first casualty.

It is a beautiful sight to behold good soldiers in training. You can tell them apart from their poorly trained counterparts by the way they carry themselves and handle their weapons of war. Incidences of ‘accidental discharge’ are unlikely when the soldier is well trained.

Eph 6: 13

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

This is not addressed to civilians, but to well-trained soldiers. No civilian would know how to kit up and wield the weapon!

There are times when God refers His people to certain portions of the scriptures, but they are untrained in accessing the weapon therein.

A man who upgrades himself in Christ avails himself to the help of the Holy Spirit. There will be times when, as you work, or talk, He will come to help you by giving scriptural keys for your situation.

However, to the poorly trained Christian, he might as well be an English man being directed in Russian. Inaccessible help is no help.

...that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Christians run from the battle of life because they have not been trained to pick up the power and fire of the Word.

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God...

God desires to give power to every Christian, but the power will not come on every one of them. It will only fall upon those who have been trained to bear it.

When Pentecost came, the power from on high did not miss its way. It did not fall upon those celebrating Pentecost outside. It sought out those tarrying in the Upper Room, filled the house and rested upon its occupants.

God desires that you get to the throne, but He will not take you there without training.

Abram went to war and returned successful because he had well trained servants and the weapons to match. It would have been foolhardy for anyone to make such a man his enemy, because he had proven capable of withstanding, and having done all, to remain standing.

PRAYER POINTS

In the name of Jesus,

Holy Ghost, I submit my totality to You. Train my soul.

Sufficient fire and power of God, possess my life.

Whole armour of God- sufficient power, fire, wisdom- possess my life.

Any wicked power from anywhere, standing on my way, to block my way; I cast you down and clear you off by fire.

Raw fire of God, transform my soul.

Any evil power sent to force life out of me, you are a liar. I slay you by fire.